Job Title: Head of People & Culture – AMEA Region | Svitzer

About Svitzer:

For nearly 200 years, Svitzer has been a global leader in towage and sustainable marine solutions. Formerly part of A.P. Moller – Maersk, we are now an independent company, listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen, shaping the future of maritime operations. Operating in 35+ countries across 140 ports, we support container vessels, cargo ships, cruise liners, and navy vessels while driving green and digital innovations for a sustainable future.

The Svitzer AMEA region (headquartered in Dubai) spans 13 countries from Liberia to the Philippines, managing 110 vessels across 2 ports and 17 terminals with a dedicated workforce of 950+ employees.

About the Role:

As the Head of People & Culture for Svitzer AMEA, you will be a key strategic leader responsible for shaping our people strategy and fostering a thriving organizational culture. Reporting to both the Managing Director of Svitzer AMEA and the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our people and culture initiatives align with our global mission and regional business goals.

This position offers a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic People & Culture team, drive leadership development, DEI initiatives, employee engagement, and talent growth, and contribute to our global P&C leadership team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering:

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the Managing Director and Regional Leadership Team.

  • Develop and implement a People & Culture strategy aligned with business objectives.

  • Drive a customer-centric culture, ensuring people initiatives support organizational success.

• People & Culture Development:

  • Lead a high-performing People & Culture team, ensuring consistency across all regional operations.

  • Champion Leadership Development, DEI, Employee Engagement, and Wellbeing initiatives.

  • Foster a workplace culture that prioritizes growth, collaboration, and innovation.

• Operational Excellence & Employee Experience:

  • Oversee talent management, compensation structures, industrial relations, and workforce planning.

  • Ensure alignment with global HR best practices while adapting to regional needs.

  • Partner with global leadership to shape the future of HR operations at Svitzer.

• Regional & Global Influence:

  • Contribute to the Global People & Culture Leadership Team, driving alignment across regions.

  • Travel across diverse AMEA locations and port operations to connect with employees and customers.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Experienced HR Leader: 10+ years in HR leadership roles, ideally in transportation, maritime, or logistics sectors.

• Strategic & Business-Oriented: Strong HR business partnering experience with a track record of influencing leadership teams.

• Culture & Leadership Development Expertise: Deep understanding of organizational culture, leadership training, and capability building.

• People-Centric Mindset: Passionate about creating thriving teams that drive business success.

• Global & Regional Experience: Previous experience in multi-country HR operations, preferably in the AMEA region.

• Strong Communicator & Change Leader: Ability to build trust, collaboration, and innovation across a diverse workforce.

• English Fluency Required; additional regional languages are a plus.

Why Join Svitzer?

• Lead HR Strategy in a Global Marine Industry Leader.

• Be Part of a Purpose-Driven, Customer-Centric Organization.

• Work in a Diverse & Innovative Environment Focused on Sustainability.

• Drive Real Impact in Leadership, Culture, and Employee Growth.

• Travel Across the AMEA Region & Connect with Global Teams.

At Svitzer, we celebrate diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you’re passionate about leading people and culture in a global maritime industry, we want to hear from you!

How to Apply:

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to submit your application and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.